The Third Son

[simison]

"How can our humanity cure Battle Fatigue?" Crassus asked, in a tone on the thin border between respectful and wary. 

 

"Simple, it is war that causes this plague, thus, we must counter war's influence with the influence of peace. On Delos, there is an ancient tradition among both the Sindhuans and the Tyrins, known as Dharma and Arête, respectively. Although these words have meant different things throughout the ages, for the purpose of the Fifth Legion, I define these words as 'pursuits of excellent'. I want every man to find a path, an interest, a trade, anything that he can devote himself to that is not explicitly tied to warfare. It is imperative that whatever the pursuit is, it provides some relief to him and his duties as a warrior. This is a spiritual pain that harms us. To cure it, we must address our spiritual health."

 

A wave of uncomfortable silence followed over the Primarch's language, the Emperor's ban on religion coming close to violation.

[simison]

Alexandros pressed onward. "Additionally, if a man is unable to pursue his dharma then, at the very least, he should have a chance to relieve his burden through entertainment."

 

"Entertainment?" Irvin repeated with a quirked eyebrow.

 

"Yes, entertainment, amusement, merriment, recreation, what have you. This too will provide some protection against Battle Fatigue. Whether it be cards, music, or gaming, I want my sons to be able to enjoy themselves at some point. Though our trade is war, we need not be a gathering of brooding warriors who can think of nothing else beyond their profession. I want every ship within the Fifth Legion to be outfitted with an appropriately-sized sanctam. Within this sanctam are to be a variety of tools for either pursuing one's dharma, for relaxation, or even the simple pleasure of a well-made meal. This is an official order."

 

With reluctance, Irvin said, "It will be done, my lord. It may be difficult on the smaller warships, but at least this will allow us to keep it contained."

[simison]

"No," Alexandros countered. "Every sanctam is to be open to all, whether they be Astartes, soldier, or civilian. Furthermore, there will be no rank within these places. Everyone is to be treated with equal respect and dignity. It is through this I hope my sons will retain and strengthen their connection to humanity and to their own humanity."

 

Alexandros could see Crassus struggling with the concept, while Theodor was intrigued, representing both ends of the spectrum. Speaking again, Irvin asked, "My lord, are we to display our weakness for all to see?"

 

"Did I say we would? If I am correct, then the plague will come to an end or be reduced to so few cases as to be imperceptible. I see no reason to dwell on what happened before so long as we can move forward." 

[simison]

That mollified Irvin and several of the other officers. Adalbard spoke next, "My lord, is this why you insisted I select craft on Terra?"

 

"Indeed," Alexandros said with a nod. "I do not simply intend to make an edict and then not perform any follow-up. It is to your corps that will execute my will and prevent further incidents. You and your subordinates will watch for signs of Battle Fatigue and counter it. It is to you that I charge to guide the Legion toward stability and health, whether it be in my presence or in my absence. To be effective guides requires all members of the corps, present and future, to have their own dharma. To this end, I am renaming the Opsequarion to the Chaplaincy, and your position will be High Chaplain."

 

Adalbard grimaced. "My lord, I must protest. The name is tainted with ignorant mysticism and is an affront to the Imperial Truth."

 

"The Imperial Truth acknowledges the existence of souls, of which I charge you to minister to. Whether it's known as the Opsequarion or the Disciplinary Corps, it does not suffice to reflect this new reality. Therefore, I insist on Chaplaincy which better represents your new purpose. If you are so concerned with how the past has used the term, than I challenge you to 'cleanse' it of its prior connotations and make it more suitable to the Imperium."

[simison]

Although he did not look please with his new duty, Adalbard held his tongue. Alexandros continued as he focused on Ludendof, "While I understand the vagaries of war will make it difficult, assessments of a man's spiritual health will play an important factor in duties assigned, especially combat duty." 

 

Ludendof nodded, subtle gratitude playing over his face. "My lord, how soon do you intend to implement all of this?"

 

"Tomorrow. My final order for today is that the entire Legion will assemble on the western outskirts of the planetary capital at 0550, parade formation. I intend for Balov to both witness the transformation of the Legion and to serve as a training ground for my theories, especially in the political arts. It is here that I want my sons to understand the importance of these systems and how to wield them in service of the Emperor. As such, I am invoking my authority as Primarch to claim the Balov System as an official protectorate of the Fifth Legion."

 

There was a pause. "My lord," Irvin began. "While Horus and Leman Russ have certainly claimed the Cthonia and Fenris systems as their domains, no Primarch has claimed another system as his own."

[simison]

"Until today," Alexandros countered. "Balov will remain under the authority of an Imperial Governor, much as is the rest of the Imperium. The difference is that the Legion will maintain a permanent garrison, alongside the recruitment rights. In addition to protecting the system, they will form a body of advisers to Imperial political agents. They will have no official ability to countermand the governor or the local political body, barring an emergency, but can wield influence to guide the process. An important tool in any politician's arsenal is a mastery of persuasion and 'soft' power. While the Fifth Legion is adapting to my vision, they will have the time and opportunity to learn what I have learned and apply it as Balov is brought into the Imperium's fold. Furthermore, if we are to conquer the Galaxy, we will need the Legion to grow significantly faster if we are to have any hope of subduing the galaxy in less than a millennium." 

 

"It will be difficult," Crassus warned. "We have no training in this." 

 

Alexandros smiled. "Think of it as another field of war to master. A political victory, as I have just demonstrated, can be much more potent that a military one. As the ancient axiom states, 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. If there are no further questions, you are dismissed. We have much work ahead of us."

[simison]

~~~

 

"Thank you again for coming at this early hour," Alexandros said as he stepped onto the raised platform.

 

Next to him, Mat stifled a yawn as he took the stairs. He stole another glance at the gathering in front of the platform. Over 40,000 Legionaries stood at attention in their finest armour, every medal and commendation earned from decades of war displayed on grey. Towards the city, a stream of civilians came despite the darkness. Darshan could see fear and caution playing out over them, but most of all curiousity. At the forefront of the crowd was the new Imperial Governor, Chukhay, watching and assessing. 

 

"I'm still not sure if I'll be much help, Mat muttered, uncomfortable that it was just him and Alexandros alone on the platform for all to see. 

Edited March 4, 2018 by simison

[Pearson73]

Strong writing brother, I've not had time to start through from the beginning, just the last page or so, but your tale of such a human emphatic  primarch has definitely taken my interest. The sanctam has echoes of the warrior lodges to my mind; a place of brotherhood and discourse, where rank and status are cast aside. Was this intentional and does it perhaps foreshadow things to come?

[simison]

[Thank you for the encouragement! Comments and questions like these help fuel my writing. And, yes, it was intentional. As for foreshadowing, perhaps or perhaps not. It depends on what you think is being foreshadowed.]

 

Alexandros chuckled as he stopped in the platform's center. "Nonsense, you'll be of great help to me."

 

Taking his place next to the giant, Mat stared out over the legionaries before him. "Could I become one of them?"

 

Alexandros swiveled his gaze on the young man, a temptation to peer into the future bubbling within. Darshan resisted the effort. An answer would require casting his gaze years into the future, and he distrusted any answer that was more than a few months ahead of him. "I don't know. I would be lying if I didn't say it is a perilous process to become a legionary. But you are not like others, Mat. You possess a strength of will that can be forged into steel with continued discipline. If you are serious, I can make the arrangements to have you begin the process. Though I will insist that you use your actual name."

 

'Mat' twitched. "...I don't remember it. I was just a tiny kid when I lost my family."

 

With a pause, Alexandros said, "Mahtva. Your name is Mahtva." 

 

"You sure?" Mahtva asked, distrust and hope mixing his tone.

 

Alexandros tapped his forehead. "There are precious few things that the human mind actually forgets. Most memories are simply buried to allow us to deal with the present, some more deeply than others."

 

The young man chewed on the thought for a moment before he nodded, "Thanks." 

[simison]

Alexandros smiled before turning his attention to the legion before him. A morning wind caught his red cape. No longer was he dressed in a simple robe, but this morning he wore his full armour. "My sons," the Primarch said, his empowered voice echoing across the land. "I stand before you this dawn as a disappointed father."

 

While their discipline would never allow them to display it, Darshan could see the collective aura of the legion violently react to the chastisement. The fact a crowd of mortals stood as witnesses only twisted the shame deeper. Good. 

 

"When my Father explained to me the purpose of the Great Crusade, I could not tell you the joy I felt to know that my kin were involved in such a noble undertaking. Never more would mother Terra be separated from her lost children. Thousands of years of isolation and predation would be ended as the lost would be found and the oppressed be liberated. It is with pride that I accepted my birthright and ascended as Primarch to take my place within the Great Crusade and to lead you, my sons. Alas, I came to sense a subtle poison among you. This poison can be summed in a name."  

 

Alexandros raised an open palm before clenching it into a tight fist. "Storm Rider. All of you have steadily drifted from the ideals of the Great Crusade as the years have come and gone. Instead, you have confused visionary majesty with raw physical might, an unspoken belief that you are more than men. That you are a force of nature, demigods of war. To this, I say," his hand chopped down. "No."

 

"This is the poison that quietly infects the soul of the legion. By believing you are greater than Man, you are divorcing yourself from the very quality that separates us from the monsters that feast on humanity. Though you may stand taller than any single man, this does not mean you are his superior in value. When I secured this world in the name of the Emperor, it was not the mightiest of the legion who stood by my side." 

 

With a mental cue, Mahtva stood tall and straight as he could next to the giant. Alexandros swung a hand towards him. "It was this youth! Although he had been deprived of home and kin, he possessed strength and will worthy of Astartes. This young man would have been forsaken by arrogant fools, who would have deemed him nothing more than the refuse of our race. Yet, he was the one to protect me from the assassin’s bullet! It is in him that all can see the purpose of the legions. We do not travel the stars as a horde seeking to slake our bloodlust. We are more than that. Our purpose is not to slay the enemies of the Imperium, but to be the protectors of humanity. To watch over them, to allow Mankind to unlock potential the potential within!" 

 

Now.

 

Throwing his hands into the air, a great gout of fire erupted from Mahtva's hands, mixing with the light of the rising dawn. A few cries sounded from the crowd, but Darshan was not concerned with them as he reached out, ministering to his sons. It was time to plant hope.

 

"My sons, I invite you on a journey with me. Not to simply make war for its own sake, for the victory of the Great Crusade is preordained. No, but to look past the Great Crusade and onward into eternity." Darshan saw the earlier shame give way anticipation and excitement. Working subtle power, Darshan stoked the growing fervour.

 

"We will stand between humanity and her foes as we return to the glories of the Dark Age of Technology. No, not to merely reclaim past glories, but to exceed them! To stand as the wardens against the threatening darkness! To usher in a new halcyon age of peace and prosperity! To bear the burdens of our race upon our own shoulders! MY SONS!" Alexandros roared as he threw his arms toward the heavens. "WILL YOU SHARE THIS BURDEN WITH ME?"

 

The legion's answer shook the earth. 

[simison]

[Author's Note: After a great deal of internal wrestling, I am announcing this will serve as the conclusion to Third Son. The blunt truth is that ever since September 2016, I have not truly been creating Third Son posts, but posts for Second Son. Second Son is the parallel story of Alexandros within the Brotherhood of the Lost AU. Up until this point (minus some differences in the Prologue), the stories have been identical. I would write a post for the Second Son on Bolter & Chainsword and simply match it here and other forums. 

 

With the conclusion of Chapter 10, the stories finally split in different directions. And, I simply do not have the energy and the time to maintain both stories in addition to being project manager of the Brotherhood of the Lost (BotL). Thus, my creativity must bow to logic, and I am ending the Third Son here. It is the easiest time to do so with the origin story of Alexandros and the Halcyon Wardens finished. 

 

For those of you who have not had their fill, worry not! Alexandros' and the Halcyon Wardens' story will continue in Second Son, which I update right here! I hope you all can continue enjoying this on-going epic!]

[Tarvek Val]

You tell a beautiful story, simison. I will certainly read Second Son... As soon as I go back and read the entirety of this amazing story!

 

Well done!